Shoe-last.



F. E. BENTON.

SHOE LAST.

Patented July 14, 1914.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANCIS E. BENTON, 0F STOUGI-ITON, MASSACHUSETTS.

SHOE-LAST.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANCIS E. BENTON, of Stoughton, in the county of Norfolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Shoe- Lasts; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in shoe lasts.

The weakness in lasts as at present constructed is particularly in the heel portion, as with the methods of use of lasts commonly in vogue in shoe factories, such pressure is brought to bear on the heel portion as to often cause this heel portion to break down. Then again, with the dry, hard wood used in the manufacture of the last, they crack easily, particularly on the sides and curved end when the heel plates are nailed on.

The object of my present invention is to obviate the difliculties above mentioned and to so construct a last that its heel portion shall be sufficiently reinforced to withstand any pressure to which it may be subjected and to prevent the cracking and chipping of such heel portion.

Vith this object in view, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction and combinations of parts as hereinafter set forth and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings; Figure 1 is a view of a last showing the application of my improvements thereto; Fig. 2 is a view of the heel portion of the last with the h eel plate removed, and Fig. 3 is a sectional view.

l represents a shoe last, and 2 the heel portion thereof.

The heel portion 2 of the last is provided in its bottom face with a groove 3, which may be made continuous and of any desired Specification of Letters Patent.

Application led August 20, 1913.

Patented July 14C, 1914. serial No. 785,748.

shape. In the drawing I have illustrated a circular groove, and in this groove a ring l is disposed which will so reinforce said heel portion as to prevent it from collapsing when subjected to pressure or from splitting when nails for securing the heel plate in place, are driven into the wood of the last within the confines of said ring. While the ring 4 may be made of any material which will possess suiiicient strength for the purpose stated, still I prefer to make said ring of metal.

The heel plate 5 is secured to the heel portion of the last, and the nails 6, except those which enter the heel near its inner end, enter the wood of the heel within the confines of the ring. The heel plate is intended to perform its usual functions, and it also acts to prevent displacement of the ring (t.

While my improvements are simple in construction, they have been found in practice to be quite effectual in reinforcing the heel portion of a last and greatly extending the life of the latter.

Having fully described my invention wh at I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters-Patent, is

A wooden shoe last provided in the bottom face of its heel portion with a shallow annular groove having straight parallel walls, a metal ring disposed within said groove and having parallel inner and outer faces lying parallel with the parallel walls of the groove, a heel plate covering the bottom face of the heel and the bottom edge of said metal ring, and fastening devices passing through the heel plate and entering the heel.

In testimony whereof, I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FRANCIS E. BENTON. Witnesses Crus. E. TODD, ROY W. BELL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing' the "Commissioner of Patents,'

Washington, D. C." 

